This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/13/welsh-hospitals-report-appalling-care-failings
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Welsh hospitals report reveals 'appalling' patient care failings | Welsh hospitals report reveals 'appalling' patient care failings |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Frail elderly patients were forced to endure chaotic, degrading and sometimes dangerous conditions, a highly critical independent review into two Welsh hospitals has revealed. | Frail elderly patients were forced to endure chaotic, degrading and sometimes dangerous conditions, a highly critical independent review into two Welsh hospitals has revealed. |
| Drugs were administered in an inappropriate way and families complained patients were left without sufficient food or drink and were told to defecate and urinate in bed. Nurses and doctors felt a sense of helplessness and there was a shortage of qualified staff, especially at night. | |
| One female patient confided to a member of the review team sent in to investigate the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend and the Neath Port Talbot hospital: "I am in hell." | One female patient confided to a member of the review team sent in to investigate the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend and the Neath Port Talbot hospital: "I am in hell." |
| The Welsh health minister, Mark Drakeford, ordered an immediate review of the care of elderly patients across the country. He said there would be a series of unannounced spot checks by a ministerial team of experts to check standards of care for elderly patients at district general hospitals in Wales. The spot checks will focuson the delivery of medication, hydration, night time sedation and continence care. | |
| The review team concluded that over a number of years the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University health board (ABMU), which runs the hospitals, appeared to be driven by the "short-term financial planning" that it said was in place across the NHS in Wales. | |
| Their report, entitled Trusted to Care, said: "The question should be asked about whether such a relentless focus on financial delivery year-on-year prompted by the national system is distracting NHS boards from a proper focus on quality and patient safety." | Their report, entitled Trusted to Care, said: "The question should be asked about whether such a relentless focus on financial delivery year-on-year prompted by the national system is distracting NHS boards from a proper focus on quality and patient safety." |
| It added: "No one should be in any doubt that there are aspects of the care of frail older people which are simply unacceptable and must be addressed as a matter of urgency through action by the board of ABMU and by the Welsh government." | It added: "No one should be in any doubt that there are aspects of the care of frail older people which are simply unacceptable and must be addressed as a matter of urgency through action by the board of ABMU and by the Welsh government." |
| Drakeford said: "This review does not make easy reading; it will be particularly difficult for all concerned with the care of older people in these hospitals. I give my unreserved apology to those individuals and their families whose care has fallen short of what they might expect from the Welsh NHS. I have been shocked by some of what I have read in this report." | Drakeford said: "This review does not make easy reading; it will be particularly difficult for all concerned with the care of older people in these hospitals. I give my unreserved apology to those individuals and their families whose care has fallen short of what they might expect from the Welsh NHS. I have been shocked by some of what I have read in this report." |
| The findings were immediately seized on by opponents of the Labour-controlled Welsh government, whose health record is constantly attacked both at the national assembly in Cardiff and at Westminster by the prime minister, David Cameron. | The findings were immediately seized on by opponents of the Labour-controlled Welsh government, whose health record is constantly attacked both at the national assembly in Cardiff and at Westminster by the prime minister, David Cameron. |
| The Welsh Conservatives' health spokesman, Darren Millar, said: "The startling severity of this review's findings is almost unimaginable. It is clear that patients have suffered appalling and unforgivable lapses in care that apologies will do little to put right. Not simply shocking – this evidence is horrific in the extreme." | The Welsh Conservatives' health spokesman, Darren Millar, said: "The startling severity of this review's findings is almost unimaginable. It is clear that patients have suffered appalling and unforgivable lapses in care that apologies will do little to put right. Not simply shocking – this evidence is horrific in the extreme." |
| The investigation, which was led by experts from the Dementia Services Development Centre and The People Organisation at the request of the Welsh health minister. | The investigation, which was led by experts from the Dementia Services Development Centre and The People Organisation at the request of the Welsh health minister. |
| It was launched after the case of Lilian Williams, 82, whose family said she endured appalling neglect at the hospitals and suffered a horrible death. Her son Gareth has called for a full public inquiry. | It was launched after the case of Lilian Williams, 82, whose family said she endured appalling neglect at the hospitals and suffered a horrible death. Her son Gareth has called for a full public inquiry. |
| Among the most striking elements of the report were direct testimonies of investigators, patients and relatives. One member of the review team said: "My first impression was of a chaotic atmosphere. Staff appeared stressed and not in control. They told me that they were six senior staff down, with one suspended and one on sick leave. There were patients calling out and one lady said to me: "I am in hell." | Among the most striking elements of the report were direct testimonies of investigators, patients and relatives. One member of the review team said: "My first impression was of a chaotic atmosphere. Staff appeared stressed and not in control. They told me that they were six senior staff down, with one suspended and one on sick leave. There were patients calling out and one lady said to me: "I am in hell." |
| They added: "Staff were not confident about caring for confused people. Newly qualified staff weren't being supervised and junior doctors came and went with very little interaction with the nurses. The noise and clutter was overstimulating, with TVs on but not being watched, and an atmosphere where there were too many people – doctors, cleaners, nurses, all in the patient space at once." | They added: "Staff were not confident about caring for confused people. Newly qualified staff weren't being supervised and junior doctors came and went with very little interaction with the nurses. The noise and clutter was overstimulating, with TVs on but not being watched, and an atmosphere where there were too many people – doctors, cleaners, nurses, all in the patient space at once." |
| Another review member said: "The chaotic atmosphere increases the risk of drug errors. Patients that probably have dementia were being prescribed antipsychotics without a proper risk assessment. The inappropriate use of sedation for 'aggression' was observed." | Another review member said: "The chaotic atmosphere increases the risk of drug errors. Patients that probably have dementia were being prescribed antipsychotics without a proper risk assessment. The inappropriate use of sedation for 'aggression' was observed." |
| Patients were given prescribed medicine but not observed taking it. The review said the way drugs were administered in some cases was "unacceptable and dangerous". | Patients were given prescribed medicine but not observed taking it. The review said the way drugs were administered in some cases was "unacceptable and dangerous". |
| There was also worrying testimony from patients' families. One relative said: "They left him with the cloth and a bowl to wash himself. I found dried excrement on his legs." Another told the investigators: "We couldn't look to the nurses to care for mum. They had no power. They couldn't get a doctor when we needed one. They couldn't get medicines over the weekend. My mum had no medication or food or water for days." | There was also worrying testimony from patients' families. One relative said: "They left him with the cloth and a bowl to wash himself. I found dried excrement on his legs." Another told the investigators: "We couldn't look to the nurses to care for mum. They had no power. They couldn't get a doctor when we needed one. They couldn't get medicines over the weekend. My mum had no medication or food or water for days." |
| The report said staff appeared not to know about ameliorating the common problems in care of frail older patients, including management of continence, delirium, mobility, nutrition, dementia, hygiene, and fear." It highlights failings in doctors, nurses, pharmacists and managers. | The report said staff appeared not to know about ameliorating the common problems in care of frail older patients, including management of continence, delirium, mobility, nutrition, dementia, hygiene, and fear." It highlights failings in doctors, nurses, pharmacists and managers. |
| Looking at issues affecting the NHS in Wales in general, the review said: "It is not too great a stretch to see current muddled management structures, lack of clinical cohesion and failures to have sufficiently skilled and oriented staff working in frontline settings, as being directly traceable to an overemphasis on short-term operational and financial delivery." | Looking at issues affecting the NHS in Wales in general, the review said: "It is not too great a stretch to see current muddled management structures, lack of clinical cohesion and failures to have sufficiently skilled and oriented staff working in frontline settings, as being directly traceable to an overemphasis on short-term operational and financial delivery." |
| The ABMU board apologised to patients and their families or carers. | The ABMU board apologised to patients and their families or carers. |
| It accepted some care had been very poor and vowed to put it right. The chair, Andrew Davies, said: "This report was very uncomfortable to read but we are determined to emerge as a health board where all our hospitals provide excellent, patient-centred care." | It accepted some care had been very poor and vowed to put it right. The chair, Andrew Davies, said: "This report was very uncomfortable to read but we are determined to emerge as a health board where all our hospitals provide excellent, patient-centred care." |
| Ten nurses have been suspended from Princess of Wales Hospital as part of a police investigation into alleged record-keeping anomalies. | Ten nurses have been suspended from Princess of Wales Hospital as part of a police investigation into alleged record-keeping anomalies. |